What's a good car to get for city living with newborn twins?

[Anonymous]

OP, the center tether for the CR-V is on the ceiling rather than on the back of the seat. Some people like it and others don't, but you don't need it until your kids are forward-facing, so you have a while.

The HR-V is on the Fit platform, as a PP noted, and might be worth checking out if the CR-V feels too big, also. But I think you might appreciate the CR-V size over the years if you plan to hang on to at least one of your Mini Coopers.

[Anonymous]

We have two kids in car seats in a Prius but I’m not sure it would work if one of us were tall and it’s a bit of a squeeze to sit between them in back. Before our first was born we were car-free in DC for 10 years.

I borrowed the type of car seat and stroller I planned to use from a friend and brought it with me to test drives! At first my husband thought I was nuts but after struggling to get the stroller in a few cars (just a snap and go frame - nothing huge) it was clear it was helpful!

[Anonymous]

I’m the original CRV poster. One of our kids rear faces and the other faces forward, so any adult getting in the middle uses the FF side. It’s quite comfortable. Even my husband who’s tall and big has used the middle seat on long drives (to nap with the kids, LOL!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband drives a Mini Cooper and we have made it work for two kids close in age (not twins). I have become very well acquainted with its limitations. First, you need small bucket seats for the infants— it is better to test them out at the store so you can see how it will feel to have the front car seats moved forward. The worst stage was the rear facing convertible car seat stage. Something about getting small but active wiggling kids into a backwards facing seat with the limitation of the two door Mini Cooper design... it was a back killer. Sometimes, I think we had to lean into the trunk to buckle them— so awkward. I can’t quite explain how tricky it is to get a child into a permanently installed backwards seat with a two door car, leaning from the front seat angle. I was absolutely incapable for a while due to csection. My husband was in charge of that stuff because I had the four door “family car” anyway. Plus the convertible rear facing seats took up the most space. That was the stage when our knees were quite close to the dashboard. The bucket seat (newborn to six months ish stage) was not great either, but we could wiggle the seat into place with the small baby already buckled in. We used a chicco keyfit. Several bucket seats did not fit at all. Once we were able to face the convertible seat forward, everything was better. We had space for our knees again and the twisting motion of getting a kid into the backseat through the two door design was no longer such a back killer. This transition doesn’t happen until 2 years in. Now that our kids can climb into their own seats at 3 and 5 years, I’m encouraging him to keep the car. It has been dependable.

I traded in my beloved Mini Cooper for a CRV because it was such a literal pain to get a child into the rear facing seat. Also no room for stroller in the trunk.

I’m the PP. I have a CRV, too. It has been perfect for our needs in very close in suburbia. That trunk is great for trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have twins. Don’t worry so much about the car and get help lined up in advance. The first 6 months of twins is tough.

+100. My twins are now 9 and my one regret is not having enough help lined up. I don't remember much of the first 8 months because DH and I were in a sleepless survival mode.

I've had a Subaru Forester since they were born and it's been fine for the infant and convertable car seats. With the rear facing infant seats it was a little too tight to fit an adult in the center seat but there was more rom when we switched to the convertable seats. The trunk is large and easily fits a double stroller and any additional gear.

[Anonymous]

When the kids were infants, we walked a lot. But as they grew older we def. Needed a larger car for activities, trips, friends, family visiting, etc. And there's an age between 2-4 where they don't want to sit in stroller but can't walk a lot, etc.

We are happy with our Subaru outback. I preferred the Forrester but it was too tight for an adult in back with two car seats. The Outbacks flatter back seat design made it easier.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s pretty unlikely an adult will be able to sit in back with 2 car seats comfortably unless you get something huge (like a minivan or Pilot or something.) So I wouldn’t let that be a determining factor. We couldn’t do it with our Hyundai Sante Fe or Sonata.

[Anonymous]

I have a 6’4” husband and NOTHING fits behind his seat! He needs to push and recline the drivers seat so much that a rear facing car seat was a challenge and the legs of a hunan are impossible. We now have a big Yukon and the kids ride in the backseat on the passenger side and in the middle of the back bench - and complain bitterly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6’4” husband and NOTHING fits behind his seat! He needs to push and recline the drivers seat so much that a rear facing car seat was a challenge and the legs of a hunan are impossible. We now have a big Yukon and the kids ride in the backseat on the passenger side and in the middle of the back bench - and complain bitterly

My husband is 6’7 and is fine with having a car seat behind his seat in our Subaru Forester. I am 6 ft and am also fine with having a car seat behind my seat. We have children a year apart and the Forester has worked well for us.

You can fit an adult between the car seats, but it better be a petite person. Not that much space.

[Anonymous]

NP here...
No car input for you, but wanted to say you’ll have to learn to tune out the well-meaning suggestions from other people. Family especially loves to give their advice on what you should do or not do for your kids (get a bigger car, move out of the city etc). Do what feels right for you and DH and it will be all good. Congrats on your babies! Fun (and exhausting!) next chapter ahead for you both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here...
No car input for you, but wanted to say you’ll have to learn to tune out the well-meaning suggestions from other people. Family especially loves to give their advice on what you should do or not do for your kids (get a bigger car, move out of the city etc). Do what feels right for you and DH and it will be all good. Congrats on your babies! Fun (and exhausting!) next chapter ahead for you both.

This is the best advice.
I tried not to buy or do things until I needed them. It's so easy to get things quickly these days. If you need a bigger stroller or car or anything else you can usually get it in two hours or less. Don't front load with things and life changes

[roamet]

OP here. Thank you all for sharing your advice and experience. And world of encouragement.

The result for me and husband as PP put it - go with our gut. Focus on the twins as many of you have said. And that despite what many say, especially those living outside the city - we have plenty of options not the least being walking, metro and ride share.

Thanks again. 14 more weeks to go before the littles are here.

[Anonymous]

I'd say - buy whatever that has sliding doors
Tight parking spaces in the city and newborns in carsits are not a best combo.
Not sure what's smallest available now. Used to be Mazda 5, crysler Pacifica, etc.

[Anonymous]

I doubt you'll ever make a trip anytime soon with both kids and both dogs. Just stick to the car you are comfortable driving and once they're a little older you can look at cars.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I’d recommend the 4-door Prius. The interiors are insanely roomy, good open door space for buckling in kids, and the dogs will be fine sitting on the floor of the open trunk space. The Prius is huge inside, but also much easier to park than the Outback or Forester.